When the Mountains Dance

TOGETHER WITH

In this week’s Buzz:

• Municipality meets to discuss fire risk and establish plans should a major fire break out in the local area

• Why is the service standard much lower in Bansko than in the UK?

• A Ukrainian man was arrested for driving at two local police officers

• Days of Bulgarian music to fill the square at the weekend

• Only two more weeks of local demonstrations of local handicrafts and trades

• We’re nearing the end of the summer events programme, but three great ones are coming up

Sensory walks, Balkan beats, and unforgettable moments in the square

This weekend, there was a mix of events happening in Bansko.

The Feel Bansko event had participants “…breathing in the rhythm of the mountain", where the sensory tour took people into sounds, aromas and views, and the yoga in nature brought them back to themselves. See some photos here.

Then there was the Balkan Music Festival, which ran over two days and offered people music from performers from Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria. This was "...incredible evenings full of dancing, emotions and lots of open-air music," where people experienced "... emotions, music and unforgettable moments." See some photos here.

Two different types of events for all of the family to enjoy.

Five M — Savour Every Bite, Cherish Every Moment

At Five M, every dish is a masterpiece, from delicious appetizers to exquisite main courses and desserts. Everything is created to bring you delight and unforgettable moments.

Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 91 New Posts, 💬 305 Comments, 👍️ 1,077 Reactions

Want a Good Deal? Head to Jysk in Razlog
John posted that he was in Jysk this week (in Razlog) and saw lots of ex-display items with up to a 70% discount in the store. Jysk generally have recurring 20-40% discounts on most of the products online too.

Is it Worth Getting the Gondola in the Summer?
Martin asked whether it was worth buying a ticket for the gondola in the summer and if there was anything to do up the mountain. See what people had to say.

Where Can I Find a Great Upholsterer?
Graeme wanted to know if anyone knew of a good upholsterer in the local area who could help him with some furniture. Some people had suggestions.

Why is the Service Standard Lower in Bansko?
Atanas posted a “review” of Pizza Verona and the service received when he went during Jazz Fest, comparing the service in a restaurant in Bansko with similar ones in the UK. See what people had to say.

(The above posts are publicly accessible. You don’t need a Facebook account to view them.)

Local/Municipality News

Euro1zone Opens on Pirin Street
Euro1zone, a discounted store with items including a large selection of household and kitchen items, children’s toys, stationery supplies, party supplies, suitcases, clocks, and lightbulbs, has opened. It’s located where the BG supermarket used to be. Read more.

Ukrainian Man Runs Over Local Police Officers
Earlier this week, a Ukrainian man was waved down by police at one of their regular checkpoints. The driver signalled to pull over; however, as the police officer approached his car, he drove off at speed, injuring one police officer in the leg and the other in the arm. He was later apprehended and, when tested, was over the drink-drive limit. Read more [Translation required].

Municipality Meeting About the Fire Risk in Bansko
Several representatives from different regional administration organisations met to discuss how they could prevent a fire similar to the one in the Kresna area the other week. They discussed specific measures such as the preservation of public order, the provision of physical security in forest and field areas, and the evacuation of people and animals in case of fire close to settlements. Read more.

Israeli and Moldovan Ambassadors Visit Bansko During Jazz Fest
Most likely because both of these countries had representatives participating in the 10-day-long Jazz Festival, the ambassadors from both Israel and Moldova were in Bansko last week. They both met with the mayor and each expressed their encouragement for Bansko’s summer cultural events, which will bring in both performers and tourists from their countries and others around the globe. Read more.

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Events Next Week

Days of Bulgarian Music (Main Event)
Two days of rhythm, dance and feeling the music. On Friday (22nd) from 8.30pm in the main square, Camino Band will perform songs from the golden years of Bulgarian pop music. On Saturday (22nd) from 8.30pm in the main square, Stefan Valdobrev and The Usual Suspects will perform some Bulgarian classics that people can “sing along to” (well… as long as you know the words 🤣). More info.

Demonstration of Local Trade & Handcrafts
Outside the Tourist Information Center between 5pm and 7pm is traditional Bulgarian cuisine (Friday) and Art School (Saturday). Live folk music between 6pm and 6.30pm on Saturday only: see the singers here).

The Silence of Colors Painting Exhibition
Violeta Laleva brings her Silence of Colors painting exhibition to town this week. This should take place on Saturday (16th) 11am to 7pm, Sunday (17th) 10am to 2pm, Monday (18th) 9am to 6pm, and Tuesday (19th) 9am to 6pm: at the Tourist Information Center in Bansko.

Final Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance for the summer
On Saturday (23rd), starting at 5pm, the final cacao ceremony and ecstatic dance event of the summer will take place at Kolibata. The price for entry is 25 BGN. More info.

Sunday Walking Club for Bansko Street Dogs
The regular Sunday walking club will start from around the gondola area at 10am on the 24th for a casual walk for a few hours. It’s a good way to meet people and discover some parts of Bansko that you might not have seen before. Donation of 5 BGN per person to Bansko Street Dogs. Keep an eye on the Bansko Notice Board events section for more info on the exact meeting point.

Other Events in Bansko this week:

• Mon (18th): Public Speaking Workshop at Sky Bansko; 5.45pm. More info.

• Tues (19th): Marketing Meetup at Sky Bansko; 6.30pm. More info.

• Tues (19th): Bansko Runclub(ish) at Altspace Central; 6.30pm (ends at The Station).

• Fri (22nd): Automate like a pro at Sky Bansko [paid]; 2.30pm. More info.

• Fri (22nd): Altspace Beers at their Summit location; 6pm-8pm (BYOB).

• Fri & Sat (22nd & 23rd): This is Pirin photo exhibition in the park; 5pm. More info.

• Sat (23rd): Art exhibition at Amuse Bouche; 6.30pm. More info.

• Sat (23rd): Big Band Blagoevgrad performing in Razlog park; 8pm.

• Sat & Sun (23rd & 24th): Hike around the lakes of the Pirin Mountains. More info.

• Sat to Mon (23rd-25th): Among the lakes and ridges of Pirin event. More info.

Photo of the Week

A view of the Pirin Mountains from the Glazne River footbridge.

Tag @banskobuzz to get your photo in the Buzz.

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